Tulsa Botanic Garden

The Tulsa Botanic Garden is a 170 acres (69 ha) botanical garden under development at 3900 Tulsa Botanic Drive, approximately 8 miles (13 km) northwest of downtown Tulsa, in Osage County, Oklahoma. It is located at the intersection of N 52 W Avenue and W 43 Street N.[1] The mission of Tulsa Botanic Garden is to promote the beauty and importance of plants and nature to create a more sustainable and harmonious world.

Dr. F. Todd Lasseigne, a noted horticulturalist, is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Garden. Prior to his appointment in 2011, he was Executive Director of Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden (Kernersville, North Carolina) from 2005 through early 2011. Before that, he was Assistant Director of the JC Raulston Arboretum (Raleigh, North Carolina).[2]

History

The project was first conceived in 1999, and called the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden Research and Education Center (OCBG). Pat Woodrum became Executive Director in 2003. [lower-alpha 1]In 2004, Persimmon Ridge, LLC donated 170 acres (69 ha) of land for the Garden site. The Oklahoma Centennial Commission awarded grants totaling $2.2 million to the OCBG in 2006 to begin construction on the site. The Assistant Principal Chief of the Osage Nation conducted a Blessing of the Land ceremony for the garden in 2007.[4]

A 7 acres (2.8 ha) lake and 1,200 square feet (110 m2) visitor center were dedicated in 2008, and opened to the public in 2009. F. Todd Lasseigne was named to run the garden in 2011.[5][6] In 2013, some 1,200 plants were added, and the facility was renamed as the Tulsa Botanic Garden (TBG).[7] Development continued during the following winter in preparation for the garden's April 2014 reopening.[8]

Construction of water and electric mains to the TBG was completed during the summer of 2014. Previously, the facility had to truck in water and use a portable propane generator to supply electricity. During early 2014, the center completed an outdoor shade structure, covering an area of 3,200 square feet (300 m2). This structure will shelter plants that can not be grown in full sunlight. The center plans to build an indoor structure of the same size. Staff offices, which have been in the Harwelden mansion, will move to the center in the fall of 2014.[9]

The Garden announced progress on their first capital campaign, titled ""Reaching for Generations,” on October 2, 2014. The campaign, whose goal is to raise $17 million,[lower-alpha 2] will fund the construction of four gardens: The A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Floral Terraces will be a formal garden, set on four acres, that will showcase colors and textures throughout the season, using ornamental plants including perennials, shrubs and bulbs. The Children’s Discovery Garden is designed as a “wonderland” environment to provide experience-based learning for children and families. The Lotus Pool will highlight aquatic plants, like lotus and water lilies, and be surrounded by the circular All Seasons Garden that will be filled with plants throughout the year. [11]

Groundbreaking for the 3 acres (1.2 ha) A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Floral Terraces was Thursday, November 13, 2014. The $3 million project opened to the public on October 3, 2015.[3]

The Children's Discovery Garden opened on May 15, 2016. [12][3]

The Gardens host an annual Garden Of Lights festival "Garden Of Lights", which is an event that has been hosted since the winter of 2018.

Notes
  1. Woodrum had retired from her previous position as Executive Director of the Tulsa City and County Public Library System, where she had worked for 32 years.[3]
  2. The campaign had already raised $10 million by October 2, 2014.[10]

References
  1. "Tulsa Botanic Garden.'Formerly Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden'". Tulsa City-County Library. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  2. "Tulsa Botanic Garden: F. Todd Lasseigne, Ph. D." Accessed July 3, 2015.
  3. "Developing a Botanic Garden for Tulsa." Tulsa Botanic Garden. Accessed October 15, 2017.
  4. April Marciszewski, "Tribal blessing: Ceremony marks initial event for Oklahoma Centennial Garden", Tulsa World, May 1, 2007  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .
  5. "Meet Todd Lasseigne, New Executive Director of the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden", KWGS, May 24, 2011.
  6. Pearl Garrison, "Botanical Garden Blooming With Todd Lasseigne", GTR Newspapers, October 17, 2011.
  7. Emory Bryan, "Newly Renamed Tulsa Botanic Garden Unveils Big Plans For Growth", KOTV-DT, July 10, 2013.
  8. Nour Habib, "Thousands of bulbs being planted at Tulsa Botanic Garden", Tulsa World, January 15, 2014 (subscription required).
  9. "Construction at Tulsa Botanic Garden moves ahead." Tulsa World. Habib, Nour. August 4, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  10. Jones, Erin. "Campaign To Transform Tulsa Botanic Gardens Gets $10 Million Jumpstart," News on 6. October 2, 2014. Accessed July 3, 2014.
  11. Habib, Nour. "Tulsa Botanic Garden says fundraising for first phase tops $10 million". Tulsa World. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  12. "Tulsa Botanic Garden to unveil Children's Discovery Garden on Sunday" Tulsa World Rodrigo, Jessica May 13, 2016

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